Astrid Varnay

The Profile

Dramatic soprano born April 25, 1918 in Stockholm. Celebrated for Wagner and Strauss roles; major association with the Metropolitan Opera and the postwar Bayreuth revival. Author of the autobiography '55 Years in Five Acts: My Life in Opera' (1998).

Born April 25, 1918 in Stockholm. Debuted at the Metropolitan Opera on December 6, 1941 as Sieglinde in Die Walküre, replacing Lotte Lehmann. Prominent interpreter of Wagnerian roles (Isolde, Brünnhilde, Kundry, Ortrud) and noted for a voice combining soprano and mezzo qualities. Published autobiography in 1998.

One enthusiast's five-star review of Astrid Varnay's 1998 autobiography highlights her iconic dramatic performances (Wagner, Strauss) and a remarkable Met debut in 1941. The review praises the book as lively, anecdotal, and accessible beyond opera insiders.